The Terror's Finale
Bianca bit her nails in the back seat of the car heading home, having just secured the "goods" that would lure back the old clients after cutting off Stahlleder's funds.
"Ha... Fuck. Didn't they say it wouldn't take this long?"
"Hey. If I keep calling, is he gonna get pissed?"
"W-well, when the Alpha calls, it's strange for her advisor not to answer—"
"Right? It's wrong for the advisor not to pick up when the Alpha's calling, isn't it?"
Her phone already showed ten missed calls next to the name Maska. This was the eleventh.
"Stop making me worry and pick up the damn phone. Shit... nothing bad happened to him, right...?"
She was muttering while listening to the ringing tone for the eleventh time when the subordinate in the passenger seat suddenly perked up.
"What? Right now...? The news? Got it. Uh... Alpha, ma'am."
The man turned and held out his phone, but all he received was a cold, blue-eyed glare. An overwhelming pressure settled over the car, enough to shut his mouth and force his gaze to the floor.
"Can't you see what I'm doing?"
"I'm sorry, it's just that—"
"Shut up."
Endless waiting. Then the same mechanical message played again.
"The number you have dialed is unavailable. After the tone—"
"...Ha."
With a deep sigh, the number 11 appeared next to Maska's name. The phone screen went dark.
"It better be nothing serious."
The subordinate's phone was still held out. The moment Bianca snatched it and pressed it to her ear, her face turned deathly pale.
"...Turn on the news."
"Pardon?"
"I said turn on the news. Are you deaf?"
The driver’s fingers pressed a button, bringing up the news on the car's display. He gradually raised the volume until the anchor’s voice filled the vehicle.
Three figures appeared on screen. Among them, Bianca’s pale blue eyes locked onto the man covered in dark colors. The cloak was a different shade, but she remembered the voice that had explained why. She also remembered the helmet—the exact one her subordinates had been told to deliver to the designated location.
That was why—
"Fuck. You said it would all go according to plan."
A harsh curse tore from her throat. At the same time, her fingers punched straight through the leather of both front seats. The red and blue lights of the police cars chasing Maska’s truck flooded her vision. Along with them, the hero’s massive pure-white wings.
"Alpha, what are your orders?"
"...Turn around."
"Without unloading the cargo in the trunk? Turn around right now?"
"Don’t talk back and just turn the damn car!"
The line of vehicles swerved in unison as the lead car yanked the wheel hard, accelerating toward the city center. Every car behind it followed, wheels screeching as they turned.
"Get ready to scatter the moment we pull that bastard out. If the cops catch him, you’re all dead to me."
Her finger pressed down hard on the phone. With a crunch, it punched straight through.
Angel spread her wings and took to the air. After roughly dumping the bound man on the shoulder, she immediately approached the police car. She was probably asking for their cooperation right about now.
Of course, since both Angel and Chain Girl were minor characters, I didn’t know much about them. Come to think of it, Justice was the only proper lead, wasn’t he? The rest barely got any screen time, always off on some assignment or another.
"Okay. How far is the range again?"
"Ten meters for precise control. Up to twenty meters at maximum extension."
"Then let’s take out the driver first. The chains always start from your hands, right?"
"Yes."
The guy wasn’t about to take his foot off the accelerator or kindly hand over the wheel. We’d have to drag him out. Minimum force for restraint, but I was prepared to inflict serious injury if necessary.
"I’ll aim for the steering wheel. Use that opening to bind the driver."
"And after that, we pull him out the same way?"
"Please do."
I wasn’t sure how delicate her control was, but it was better to leave it to her. Since they were metal chains, I could only hope they were strong enough…
"Hup!"
I dropped down from the roof of the truck and yanked open the passenger-side door. Since the ability user who’d been launching projectiles had come out this way, it wasn’t locked.
"Wha— You?! You were alive?!"
The man panicked and reached for his gun. His hands left the wheel.
"Chain Girl, now!"
I threw myself forward at that exact moment, grabbing the steering wheel with both hands.
Clank.
Right after, steel chains slithered along the interior walls like snakes. It looked bizarre, but—
"Gack?!"
They immediately wrapped around his neck and wrists, yanking him upward. The wrapped areas turned bright red, and his face quickly went blue. Her strength was no joke.
"Kgh— Gah— Haaack?!?!"
I jammed the stun gun into his thrashing body as he struggled not to be lifted. The subordinate immediately went limp.
"Done?"
"Done! Call Angel over."
When I opened the driver’s door, the chains wrapped around him even more aggressively. They bound even his legs tightly. I slowly lifted the body, and Angel took it immediately.
"I’ll leave it to you."
"...The police say they’re closing the distance. Drive properly."
She seemed seriously pissed. This was supposed to be about saving people, but not getting the spotlight must’ve been that big a deal to her. Either way, I could finally sit in the driver’s seat.
My goal now was to keep my foot completely off the accelerator while properly controlling the truck’s direction.
Once Angel disappeared completely behind us, two police cars sped ahead. Preparing for any contingency, I supposed.
"Now I need to connect to the police cars and the truck…"
"Why?!"
"You said if I connect it to the door it might get ripped off, so connect it directly to the vehicle, right?"
"Didn’t Angel say she’d help?"
"Well, that’s…"
Damn it. No way.
I opened the door and turned my head. Angel was sitting on top of the police car, folding her wings. She shook her head at me.
"She can only fly that short a distance?!"
"I-it’s not that she can’t, but… sometimes when she’s not feeling well… that happens."
I’d just given more weight to Chain Girl since the situation suited her better. Plus, I’d even emphasized their cooperation by having Angel fly back and forth to make the connection. What the hell was the problem…? Ha.
"I’ll head over there. Before that, secure the wheel for me."
"Huh?"
"I’ll help you hang on, so tie the wheel down with your chains!"
The chains clanked down. I awkwardly stretched them tight throughout the cabin so the wheel couldn’t turn too sharply. Then I grabbed her outstretched hand and climbed back onto the roof.
Her eye mask wasn’t enough to hide her anxious expression.
"Don’t be nervous. Right now, you’re the only one who can stop this truck safely."
"It’s always like this. The moment I look like I might stand out a little…"
"Don’t cry. You’re not planning to stay a sidekick forever, are you?"
I roughly wiped her tears away with my glove and gripped both her shoulders firmly. Chain Girl finally lifted her head.
"I’ll hold one of your hands tight. If you secure my body to the truck with your chains, it’ll be easier."
"Then I’ll go down and… um…"
"There should be footholds. Near the wheels too. Use the chains that can reach the approaching police cars and—"
"I just need to hook the part that comes out of my hand onto the truck, right?"
"Good. You can do this. Definitely."
Only then did she stand up, stretching her limbs with a big yawn. The chains poured out with a metallic hiss, wrapping around my body before she hooked the end onto part of the truck.
"I’m trusting you, nameless vigilante."
"I’m trusting you too."
There was no other way to stop this truck quietly now.
"Ugh…"
I lowered her beneath the speeding vehicle. She was lighter than I expected. Lighter than Bianca, at least…
"Officer! This way, closer!"
With a solid clank, the chain connected to the police car’s bumper. It felt more like an American special-purpose reinforced bumper than anything you’d see in reality. The chain held firm without issue.
"This side’s done! Pull me up!"
I hauled her up with all my strength. Her body swayed. I immediately caught her before she could lose her balance.
"Careful!"
"Whoa?!"
The body that slammed into me was definitely softer than Bianca’s. Then again, Bianca’s build was way too “thick” to call average for a woman.
"Th-thank you."
"Let’s finish the rest quickly. Before anything worse happens. Hurry!"
"W-wait, I still haven’t… got my balance…"
Her legs were still shaking badly. Was this her first time doing something like this?
I carefully helped her sit on the roof.
The road still had quite a ways to go.
"How long have you been a sidekick?"
"Not long."
"Not long, yet you handle those chains so well?"
"Ah, um… I’m still lacking, but… thank you for saying that."
She had talent. Her speed was a bit slow, but the wrapping force was strong. With more training, she could fight quickly and accurately. If she trained in close combat too, she could definitely become a great hero.
But right now—
"Chain Girl, I know it’s hard, but—"
"There’s not much time, right? Still… your encouragement gave me strength. You might be my first fan."
"I’d like to talk longer, but…"
I took her outstretched hand, helped her up, and led her to the rear of the truck.
"After this is over, want me to ask for your autograph?"
"Looks like your tension’s gone. Hurry up and finish the rest."
It felt like I’d made a connection with the hero side. But unfortunately, right now… I had to look for a chance to escape.
Clank.
The chain hooked on lightly. Then came the sound of wings.
Damn it. She shows up right after the work’s done.
"If it’s too hard, you can hand that hand over to me."
"It’s almost finished, so I’ll leave Chain Girl to you in case of emergencies."
"What about you?"
"Someone has to hold the wheel."
I couldn’t let them snatch away the finished product. I had no intention of giving them another piece of the pie.
"...Tsk."
She couldn’t even manage her expression. How the hell did she go around playing hero?
Setting my doubts aside, I helped Chain Girl up as she turned to me.
"It’s done. Now the police just need to hit the brakes."
"Then go with Angel and give the signal. I’ll handle the wheel."
Angel accepted her with clear displeasure, but what could she do? The way she was scrambling to snatch up even the leftover crumbs made her look less like an angel and more like a white pigeon.
"Um, by any chance, after this is over—"
"I know you’re happy about getting your first fan, but move already!"
"Kyaa?!"
Still, forcing her off like that… Ha. Maybe it actually helped.
I brushed off the fallen feathers, climbed back into the driver’s seat, and released the chains one by one. They’d said they would crumble into powder and disappear after some time.
"Good. Then…"
I gave a thumbs-up to the police car that pulled up beside me. At the same time, I prepared the smoke grenades I’d attached under my coat.
The truck’s body lurched backward with a long screech. The wheel had gotten heavy, but I could still steer somehow.
The smell of burning rubber rose along with the smoke. The truck gradually slowed. Buildings appeared ahead, but its speed had already dropped noticeably long ago.
"About time."
I pulled the pins on the smoke grenades and tossed them. Then I opened every door and window so the smoke could spread.
By the time the speed had dropped completely, the police cars had cut in front of the truck to form a barricade. Officers were jumping out in a hurry, probably to secure me. But the smoke had already thickened, and I’d pulled several more pins.
Clang. Clang.
Spreading smoke in every direction, I quietly lowered myself and sprinted toward the alley beside the road. I dropped a smoke grenade on every path I took, even throwing some over walls on purpose.
"There! Suspect spotted! Grab him!"
"I can’t see anything! Damn it… send officers to the other side!"
I slipped into the alley, set down my bag, and pulled out the duffel I’d folded inside. I stuffed the vest, helmet, and mask into it, then changed into new clothes. I kept wiping away the sweat pouring off me like rain and caught my breath. I couldn’t afford to look suspicious.
"...Cough, cough!"
"What the— where’s all this smoke coming from—"
It seemed even the pedestrians nearby were affected. Anyway, I stuffed the bag I’d been carrying into the duffel as well and slowly blended into the crowd. If I mixed in some natural-sounding coughs… it should be perfect.
"Hm, ahem, ugh… huh?"
Wait a second. The police were one thing, but… why was Bianca here? And the people next to her—weren’t those her subordinates?
"Sorry, we’re conducting an emergency inspection."
"What? Hey, don’t touch my bag!"
"Apologies, but a terrorist incident occurred nearby, so we’re just checking personal belongings for a moment—"
"Do you have a warrant? Do you?!"
Taking advantage of the commotion, I quietly walked behind a stopped car and put on my mask. Then I immediately ran toward the car where Bianca was standing.
"Hey, are you crazy?!"
I tapped her arm as I approached, but— kegh—damn it, she grabbed me by the throat right away…
I was immediately dragged into the alley.
"...Who the hell are you?"
"Maska—kegh—Maska…! Who else here would even recognize you but me…?!"
She stared at me intently for a moment before throwing me into the car.
Damn it. Is this how you treat someone who worked their ass off—
"I thought you got caught."
What was with the sudden hug? Did I make her worry? But pressing her body against me like this—
"It’s hot."
"Stay still. Before I kill you."
Does having strength mean you can do whatever you want? Still, I had no confidence I could win in a contest of strength, and I was disgustingly tired… Whatever. Staying still was probably better. Sleep was coming over me… too.